What 3 years of Recovery has Taught me

[lulu747]

Three years ago today I decided I'd had enough, I got rid of my pills, and I found this site.  Here I found an incredible network of people who selflessly talked me through those first few months.  I took every piece of advice offered to heart.  I invested myself heavily in aftercare (SMART recovery, addictions counseling, and EMDR for my PTSD) I found myself for the first time in my life, my true self, and it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.  Within a year my life was transformed.  I owned my home, I started a business doing what I love, I was surrounded by beautiful friends who supported me endlessly.  I finally met the love of my life.  The past year has been the hardest I've ever gone through.  My chronic condition that was dormant for 3 years returned, and I was forced to go back on pain meds after 7 months of debilitating pain.  I came here and I talked it through, I upped my support.  It was an extremely difficult decision but I learned that as long as I kept working my recovery and putting safeties in place, I could do it.  I am currently 6 weeks post op and tapering.  It's really, really hard.  I was dinged last week for posting tapering advice, and I feel really bad about that.  I've never broken a rule on here.  I find myself frustrated with the lack of medical support for people wanting to get off these drugs properly.  I had no idea how to taper properly until now.  It's still really hard because though the surgery helped some, I have a secondary condition that is curable only by hysterectomy, and what I want more than anything is a baby of my own.  So I am gritting my teeth, suffering through the pain, and getting CLEAN off these drugs once again.  Because I know that living on pain meds is not really living....
I really want to thank my MH family from the bottom of my heart, for all of these years of love, support, humor, and lessons.  I've learned so much from being a part of this forum.  It touches me deeply to come on here and see people reaching out to those that are in their darkest hours.  To all of you who are new here, and wanting to get clean, who are scared, and feeling desperate:  Please know that freeing yourself from the shackles of addiction is the BEST DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE.  Addiction is a disease that is incurable, and it is one of FOUR incurable diseases that I have.  But these diseases can be put in remission.  They can be put in remission with exceptional self care, unconditional love, and a lot of hard work.  Please use this place as an anchor, and let it give you the strength to reach out in the 'real world' to surround yourself with support.  We are only as sick as the secrets that we keep.  Bless you.  All of you.
Love
Lu

[lulu747]

Woah jeez just logged on and got a good laugh.
J-

I will report.

Thank you all for being my friends.  I love you.
xo
Lu

[jifmoc]

Hey, guys, Anyone know how to get rid of this spam, faithboo, the same comment on all the posts!!! I pressed "report" but is there anything else to do?

[Sonrissa]

Time, it's does fly!

Congrats and best wishes, Lu.  Continue to fight the good fight.

Best wishes!

[ActingBrandNew]

☻/ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。
/▌*˛˚ ~♥~Big congrats on the 3 years Lu! ~♥~
/ \ ˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ ✰* ★

[Sarah11212]

Congrats Lulu! So happy for you!

[VICourageous]

AMEN SISTER!!!
I too remember them late, late nights and who was on and who was just getting up from the other side of the world.
Great Job Lu..I will always keep you close to my Heart about having a baby.
May you be BLESSED one day soon! lol

[lulu747]

I always loved that when I couldn't sleep I could log on here and talk to you Sara.  Bless you for being around and doing all that you do.
You are a woman of few words but your words are always bang on.

Carrie Anne You are doing great!!  So proud of you!!
xoxoxo

[ScarrieAnne]

You are an inspiration! Congratulations on 3 YEARS.I am pretty new here, but could not have done this without MH and the support of people like you and many others. You all are literally my lifeline, and reading your story gives me the strength to be where you are one day. Thank you for sharing, you have helped more people than you probably know! Much Love to you!!!! Carrie Anne

[dominosarah]

We spent alot of late nights on here didnt we?!!!

[lulu747]

Thanks all-

To my oldest friends Sara and Gnarly (Mark) who were literally there for me on this screen through my darkest hours...To my newer friends Annie (truly a soul sistah) and Amanda, such a sweet friend and supporter.  I love you.  Thank you for making this such a special place for me, you all live in my hearts.
xo

[Amandag78]

Hey Lu,.i just read your thread, yes you have certainly been through the ringer, but you have never given up fighting and thats what i adore about you : )
You are an amazing source of informative information, you give such thoughtout advice....
Bless your heart xoxo

[EvolverU]

Lu ! :)

I just wanted to chime in with an admiring & enthusiastic shout out to you your 3rd Anniversary!

I also wanted to tell you that you, my friend, are nothing short of amazing. You're a beautiful miracle & you awe me. Your strong, bright spirit, vibrant empathy & intelligence are literally palpable on forum. I don't know how you do it with all you've been through but you're an inspiration. I want to join in celebrating your awesome heart & rare mettle today. (What a combo!) We're blessed to have you here. May the Creative Force hold you in a safe, healing embrace & shower you with the good that you so deserve.

Thank You,

Annie

[gnarly_1]

Hey girl  you go it is good to see you great to see you clean... a big kudos for emerging your self in aftercare we lead by example 3yrs is huge the biggest thing that helped me was N/A everyone is differt and I always here great things about SMART...with N/a I have lost the desire to get loaded it is amazing such a simple program could do what I tryed to do a million times on my  own  this is a ''we'' program not a ''I'' program im so happy for you.. make my day to know that this forum was the beginning  of your new life drug free   a big thanks to all you do on the forum I will pray for good health for you...
May God bless you abundantly.....Gnarly

[dominosarah]

Congrats Lu on 3 yrs!!!  Hard to believe it has been that long already!!  Where does the time go..........

You have worked really hard to get where you are at today.  May you continue in your recovery both mind and body.

Thank you for all the help you give on the forum~

[Amandag78]

Woohoo....Congratulations my awesomely wonderful dear friend Lu, 3 years is so, so fantastic !!!!!
You are a great, caring and kind gal, im so proud to be a part of your life !!
Im just getting kiddies ready for school, so i havent read your thread, but will come back in about 2 hours : )
Lots of love to you, my sweet Lu xoxo